Apples, Movies and Moon Time

One evening a little over a week back, my house mate and I found ourselves at home peeling and coring apples that had loosened their grip and dropped from the tree in the back yard.
We sat comfortably in the TV room expertly working the paring knives, bowls for the good apple chunks, buckets for the compost, and while doing this we got into watching a movie called The Avengers.
Not only were we entertaining ourselves with super heros, we were also being productive in a leisurely sort of way with thoughts of hot apple sauce over ice cream and tasty gingersnap cookies motivating us.
Not sure why, other than maybe just needing to move, but around 10:00 just as we finished cleaning the last of the apples we both felt the strong desire to put the movie on hold and go for a walk in the moon light. We slipped on our shoes, headed out the back door into the balmy night and made our way down to the waters edge.
Strolling along the seawall towards Swy-a-lana lagoon we couldn't help noticing how super full and bright the moon was and there were a good number of others out at that late hour also enjoying the richness of an evening walk.
There was definitely a stillness, a gentle quality in the air, the temperature was tee shirt perfect and at times I felt like I was floating along rather than physically walking.
Guess I was having a tidal full moon experience.  
Enjoying each others company and occasionally greeting people in passing we slowly made our way toward Swy-a-lana park and just before arriving the distorted sounds of music and amplified conversations drifted up the shoreline to meet us.
The closer we got the more intrigued we became about what was going on at that hour, and we discovered when entering the park literally hundreds of movie goers watching Walt Disney's animated movie Frozen, which seemed appropriately cooling after such a hot day.
A hugh screen had been erected at one end of the tree lined park and the grassy knolls in between and all around were completely covered with the good people of Nanaimo all of whom had found their choice spots and either spread blankets and propped themselves up on pillows or unfolded their easy chairs to sit and watch the story unfold. It was like a sleep over and the community was invited.
The aromatic smell of hot buttered popcorn infused with cotton candy filled the air, accompanied by the laughter of children and adults alike.
Seeing all these families together curled up on their blankets watching the movie, all the while being bathed in the silvery light of a full moon was an amazing visual and one I'm certain to remember for awhile.

We continued a slow easy walk taking it all in, occasionally stopping to watch some of the movie and the people gathered, before eventually leaving the park and making our way back home. 

Never did finish the Avengers movie - the next day we enjoyed a treat of homemade apple sauce with ice cream and wonderful gingersnap cookies.

Something about our walking the sea wall and into the park at that exact moment was very special.
I discovered gratitude for my community, a gratefulness I don't recall feeling before.
In a way you could say I fell in love with Nanaimo and later that night when I crossed the bridge and quietly slipped into a deep sleep I know I had a smile on my face.

MOON GRATES AT SPIRIT PLAZA